Resort Parking Rules?!?!

[tms295psu]

We are heading to Cape May for a Character breakfast (not staying onsite) and was wondering if its a big NO NO to leave our car @ Cape May for a few hours (2-3 hrs) and use a bus to go over to Downtown Disney shopping?

 

[Reddog1134]

The parking is supposed to be for Resort Guests and people visiting the resort.

DTD parking is free. Why not just drive over there and park?

 

[akl-fan]

The parking is supposed to be for Resort Guests and people visiting the resort.

DTD parking is free. Why not just drive over there and park?

This

 

[alicia080979]

I asked a similar question in another thread. We are staying at Bonnet Creek and wanted to drive to French Quarter, leave our car, grab a snack there and take the boat to DTD or maybe even take the bus to a park for a few hours. We aren't trying to avoid any parking fees bc we have annual passes so parking is free. We just like the boat ride to DTD and like to ride the buses once or twice during our trip for the magic.

I was told that the buses are for anyone to use. As long as it is not too busy, you should be able to tell the person at the guard station what you want to do and they may issue you a temporary parking pass or tell you to go ahead. I know in the past before we stayed at PORFQ, we went one day to get beniegts and they said, "look around & stay awhile, we even have a boat you can take to DTD so welcome and enjoy the resort". I think like a lot of things at Disney...you just need to ask when you get there and go with whatever they say bc you will probably get mixed answers. Have a great trip!

 

[vicki_c]

I just have no idea why anyone would want to take a BUS from Beach Club to DTD if they didn't have to.

The Beach Club/Yacht/Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin bus is one of the worst bus experiences on property most of the time - slowest, crowded, so many stops. And to DTD vs. a park would exaggerate that even more, I think.

Combine that with the fact that the resort guard may give you a 3 hour pass (and they are more stringent at the deluxe resorts near parks), I just don't know that this could ever be a good plan.

And DTD parking is free.

(The PP talking about POFQ to DTD has a much easier and more logical situation, provided they are allowed to park by the guard.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just have no idea why anyone would want to take a BUS from Beach Club to DTD if they didn't have to.

The Beach Club/Yacht/Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin bus is one of the worst bus experiences on property most of the time - slowest, crowded, so many stops. And to DTD vs. a park would exaggerate that even more, I think.

Combine that with the fact that the resort guard may give you a 3 hour pass (and they are more stringent at the deluxe resorts near parks), I just don't know that this could ever be a good plan.

And DTD parking is free.

(The PP talking about POFQ to DTD has a much easier and more logical situation, provided they are allowed to park by the guard.)

I agree with Vicki. Why take the bus from the BC to DTD? That is the most awful bus. You'll stop at BW, YC, S/D, both stops at DTD, and TL. Drive your car over. Or you drive the car over and let someone else take the bus and see how long it takes them to arrive.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

We parked out car over @ Yacht club bc we were eating @ the steakhouse and then enjoyed Epcot that night. I didn't see a point in getting back in our car and driving to epcot, parking, and then walking again and THEN walking all through FW to hang around WS. We didn't have an issue the security guard just asked us what we were doing, where we were eating, and our last name.
But being that its DTD I would probably just take my car, no matter where we have stayed buses to DTD seem to be the slowest, especially when you want to get back to your resort, seems like you wait forever.

 

[dzorn]

We parked out car over @ Yacht club bc we were eating @ the steakhouse and then enjoyed Epcot that night. I didn't see a point in getting back in our car and driving to epcot, parking, and then walking again and THEN walking all through FW to hang around WS. We didn't have an issue the security guard just asked us what we were doing, where we were eating, and our last name.
But being that its DTD I would probably just take my car, no matter where we have stayed buses to DTD seem to be the slowest, especially when you want to get back to your resort, seems like you wait forever.

If you were staying at the YC and couldn't find a parking spot you would feel differently. And you did let the guard know you planned on going over to FW after?

Denise in MI

 

[purple figment]

I agree with Vicki. Why take the bus from the BC to DTD? That is the most awful bus.

And I also agree. Drive to DTD. There's plenty of free parking; it may not be in the rows closest to the shops, but I'd rather walk from the last row than take the bus to and from DTD.

 

[tms295psu]

I wasn't planning on bending the rules to skip on a $$ parking fee... just figured we would save ourselves some driving on vacation. I'm glad you shared your thoughts on the buses being horrible! Last thing I want is 2 screaming kids and an hour long bus ride!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For whatever reason I have noticed that the Downtown Disney Buses from the Deluxe Resorts in general, no matter if it's the Magic Kingdom Resorts or Epcot Resorts seem to be the worst in terms of waiting and etc. So that's why whenever we go there we always drive our car and it takes between 10 - 15 minutes when coming from the Boardwalk.

 

[dburg30]

IMO ANY bus to/from DTD is a horrible experience lol..

 

[madalex]

We parked out car over @ Yacht club bc we were eating @ the steakhouse and then enjoyed Epcot that night. I didn't see a point in getting back in our car and driving to epcot, parking, and then walking again and THEN walking all through FW to hang around WS. We didn't have an issue the security guard just asked us what we were doing, where we were eating, and our last name.

You may not have seen the point in re-parking your car, but what you did is not consistent with Disney's rules. There are usually signs at the Epcot resort parking lots stating that such parking is not to be used for theme park access.

And, by the way, the questions the guard asked you are what the guard will ask every non-resort guest who shows up at the resort for some purpose or another. Those questions weren't intended to give you permission to leave your car there to visit Epcot after your meal.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I just have no idea why anyone would want to take a BUS from Beach Club to DTD if they didn't have to.

The Beach Club/Yacht/Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin bus is one of the worst bus experiences on property most of the time - slowest, crowded, so many stops. And to DTD vs. a park would exaggerate that even more, I think.

Combine that with the fact that the resort guard may give you a 3 hour pass (and they are more stringent at the deluxe resorts near parks), I just don't know that this could ever be a good plan.

And DTD parking is free.

(The PP talking about POFQ to DTD has a much easier and more logical situation, provided they are allowed to park by the guard.)

Buses to DTD are historically awful. I would never take a bus to DTD if I had a car. We are staying at BWV in June - we will definitely be driving to DTD and might drive to AK as well to avoid the multiple resort stops.

You can generally park for three hours if you have a dining reservation, so you could probably leave your car and take a bus to DTD. But I don't think you would be happy you made that choice once you wait for the DTD bus.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

If you were staying at the YC and couldn't find a parking spot you would feel differently. And you did let the guard know you planned on going over to FW after?

Denise in MI

You may not have seen the point in re-parking your car, but what you did is not consistent with Disney's rules. There are usually signs at the Epcot resort parking lots stating that such parking is not to be used for theme park access.

And, by the way, the questions the guard asked you are what the guard will ask every non-resort guest who shows up at the resort for some purpose or another. Those questions weren't intended to give you permission to leave your car there to visit Epcot after your meal.

We just figured it was easier to take out 4 kids, a regular stroller and a double stroller one time as opposed to twice and not waste 40 minutes with parking, walking, and then meeting up with our party. And no resort that we went to was filled to capacity to the point that you couldn't park anywhere.

 

[Sammie]

We parked out car over @ Yacht club bc we were eating @ the steakhouse and then enjoyed Epcot that night. I didn't see a point in getting back in our car and driving to epcot, parking, and then walking again and THEN walking all through FW to hang around WS. We didn't have an issue the security guard just asked us what we were doing, where we were eating, and our last name.
But being that its DTD I would probably just take my car, no matter where we have stayed buses to DTD seem to be the slowest, especially when you want to get back to your resort, seems like you wait forever.

Did you tell the guard you were going to eat, leave your car and go to Epcot.

If not then you did not tell him what you were doing.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm glad you shared your thoughts on the buses being horrible! Last thing I want is 2 screaming kids and an hour long bus ride!

In Dec '10 we took a bus to and from DTD from OKW, and while it was OK getting there, it was almost an hour to WAIT for the ride home! Not so much fun!

Sure, parking at DTD can be crowded, but it probably won't be THAT bad.

 

[Sammie]

I agree, the buses to and from Downtown Disney are the worst bus experience on property.

 

[EvoldicA]

....wow. After reading this thread I'm glad I didn't take the bus to DTD this weekend. It was hard enough to get a bus to/from POP to/from DHS. Supposedly it was due to weather and or traffic. Oddly enough as these issues were supposedly going on we all watched 3-4 of the other buses come through in the time frame while we waited for one. I guess staying on property didn't really pay off, and I would of probably got there faster in my own car even taking parking and such into account. Grr!

~B

 

[purple figment]

We parked out car over @ Yacht club bc we were eating @ the steakhouse and then enjoyed Epcot that night. I didn't see a point in getting back in our car and driving to epcot, parking, and then walking again and THEN walking all through FW to hang around WS. We didn't have an issue the security guard just asked us what we were doing, where we were eating, and our last name.

Yes, it's easier to unload everyone and everything just once, so in the future valet your car if you plan to go to Epcot or any of the theme parks.

People who stay at the Epcot and Monorail resorts become frustrated when they have to circle the parking lot multiple times or end up parking at the very far reaches of the lot (or even the overflow lot) because sometimes the entire lot is full or so many of the close up spaces are taken by those who use it for theme park parking even though there are signs stating that's NOT what they're meant for.